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Chanan Morrison Rabbi Chanan Morrison, of Mitzpeh Yericho, runs ravkooktorah.org, a website dedicated to presenting the Torah commentary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, to the English-speaking community. He is also the author of "Gold from the Land of Israel". Recent by Author:
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Published: 09/07/06, 11:52 PM
Rabbi Kook on Ki-Tavo: Be Happy!
by Chanan Morrison
Not only does God expect us to keep the mitzvot, but we are to perform them with joy and contentment. What is the difference between these two emotions?
Not only does God expect us to keep the mitzvot, but we are to perform them with joy and contentment. What is the difference between these two emotions?
The Torah portion opens and closes with the same theme: simchah (joy). It begins with the mitzvah of offering bikurim (first fruits) in the Temple, an exercise in appreciating what God has given us, as it says, "You shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has granted you and your family." (Deuteronomy 26:11)
Afterwards, the Torah describes the terrible trials that will befall the Jewish people if they are unfaithful to the Torah's teachings. This section concludes with the root cause for these punishments: "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy (simchah) and contentment (tuv levav)." (Deuteronomy 28:47)
Not only does God expect us to keep the mitzvot, but we are to perform them with joy and contentment. What is the difference between these two emotions?
Joy and Contentment
Simchah and tuv levav are two distinct levels of happiness. Interestingly, they are the result of contradictory perceptions.
What is the source of tuv levav? This is a sense of satisfaction that we feel good about our service of God. We pray, study Torah and perform mitzvot out of a feeling that we are doing what we were created to do. As one of God's creations, it is natural for us to serve Him. We are grateful to have been blessed with the intellectual and spiritual capabilities needed to worship Him through Torah study and mitzvot.
Simchah, on the other hand, comes from the perception that some unexpected boon has befallen us. We feel joy in serving God when we are aware of the tremendous privilege in being able to connect to God - a gift far beyond our true level. Awareness of this amazing gift, while at the same time feeling that our service is appropriate and suitable, allows us to feel both simchah and tuv levav.
Cultivating Joy
How does one attain this simchah in serving God? The secret to developing and enhancing our sense of joy is to reflect on two thoughts:
1. Appreciating the significance and wonder of every medium - such as Torah study and mitzvot - that allows us to connect with the Master of the universe.
2. Recognizing the true level of our divine soul and its inherent spiritual nature, even though it may have become soiled through contact with the material world.
We experience genuine joy in serving God when we are able to thoroughly internalize these two insights.
[Adapted from Mussar Avicha, p. 32]
Afterwards, the Torah describes the terrible trials that will befall the Jewish people if they are unfaithful to the Torah's teachings. This section concludes with the root cause for these punishments: "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy (simchah) and contentment (tuv levav)." (Deuteronomy 28:47)
Not only does God expect us to keep the mitzvot, but we are to perform them with joy and contentment. What is the difference between these two emotions?
Joy and Contentment
Simchah and tuv levav are two distinct levels of happiness. Interestingly, they are the result of contradictory perceptions.
What is the source of tuv levav? This is a sense of satisfaction that we feel good about our service of God. We pray, study Torah and perform mitzvot out of a feeling that we are doing what we were created to do. As one of God's creations, it is natural for us to serve Him. We are grateful to have been blessed with the intellectual and spiritual capabilities needed to worship Him through Torah study and mitzvot.
Simchah, on the other hand, comes from the perception that some unexpected boon has befallen us. We feel joy in serving God when we are aware of the tremendous privilege in being able to connect to God - a gift far beyond our true level. Awareness of this amazing gift, while at the same time feeling that our service is appropriate and suitable, allows us to feel both simchah and tuv levav.
Cultivating Joy
How does one attain this simchah in serving God? The secret to developing and enhancing our sense of joy is to reflect on two thoughts:
1. Appreciating the significance and wonder of every medium - such as Torah study and mitzvot - that allows us to connect with the Master of the universe.
2. Recognizing the true level of our divine soul and its inherent spiritual nature, even though it may have become soiled through contact with the material world.
We experience genuine joy in serving God when we are able to thoroughly internalize these two insights.
[Adapted from Mussar Avicha, p. 32]
14 Elul 5766 / 07 September 06
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